10 Everyday Uses for Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot is one of my favourite essential oils. (Anything with a citrus scent (or taste) gets my attention.) The oil is cold pressed from the almost ripe rind of the Bergamot orange – (Citrus bergamia or Citrus aurantium) a fruit resulting from the cross breeding of orange and lemon trees, hence its unique, citrusy scent, which is both uplifting and relaxing.

Bergamot fruit

A Little Bergamot Trivia:

On one of Columbus’ many travels, he brought a tree plant from the Canary Islands to Bergamo, a city in northern Italy. It is believed that this is how the name Bergamot originated.

In Italy, Bergamot essential oil is used to add a lovely taste to marmalade.

Approximately 100 Bergamot oranges are required to produce three ounces of the essential oil.

Approximately half of all women’s perfumes and one third of men’s colognes contain Bergamot.

The world famous Earl Grey tea is made from black tea leaves and flavoured by the addition of Bergamot essential oil.

Side note: The Bee Balm herb — so named because of its tendency to attract bees — is also known as Bergamot herb (Monarda didyma) which is different than the Bergamot orange plant. By infusing a black China tea with the leaves of the Bergamot herb, you will produce a flavour of Earl Grey tea — but to purists — this is not a true Earl Grey tea.

Caution: Bergamot is the most photosensitive of all the citrus oils. Using Bergamot on your exposed skin makes it more sensitive to burning. Therefore, avoid direct sunlight or ultraviolet light on your exposed skin for up to 72 hours after use.

10 Everyday Uses for Bergamot Essential Oil

Infection control: Add a few drops of Bergamot essential oil to your liquid soaps and body wash to inhibit the growth of germs and fungus.

Helps your body absorb nutrients: Rub a dilution of Bergamot oil and fractionated coconut oil on your tummy area. This allows for a more effective absorption of the nutrients in your food by stimulating intestinal muscle contractions and the production of digestive juices, thereby speeding up the elimination of waste from your digestive tract.

Insect repellent:

Mosquitoes and other pests in the air, do not like the scent of Bergamot. Add a few drops of Bergamot and Lavender essential oils to strings or ribbons and hang in front of an open window, or on your patio. The slight breeze will spread the scent into the air and keep those bugs away.

The roots of a Bergamot plant have a potent odour which is repellent to insects. Grow this plant as a companion to your vegetable garden and insects will avoid this area.

Ease stress, tension and anxiety: The scent of Bergamot essential oil is uplifting, refreshing and relaxing, thereby working to ease the everyday stress in your life and helping to avoid depression.

Diffuse Bergamot oil to lessen the anxiety of an upcoming stressful event. The aroma has also proven to be therapeutic for patients when used prior to a surgery.

Help with Urinary Tract Infections: A UTI can be painful. Add a few drops of Bergamot essential oil to your bath water to help prevent bacterial infections from spreading from the urethra into the bladder.

Cold sores begone: Speed up the healing process of cold sores, cankers and other mouth ulcers by applying a drop or two of Bergamot oil to the affected spot. Repeat 2 or 3 times daily until the sore is cleared.

For gas and bloating: Blend equal parts of Bergamot, Chamomile and Fennel essential oils with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. Massage into the stomach area to relieve symptoms of bloating, indigestion and flatulence.

Ease travel sickness: Apply a cold compress with a few drops of Bergamot essential oil to your forehead to ease feelings of nausea.

Sprains and aches and headaches, oh my! Don’t reach for those over the counter pain meds. Instead, reduce those symptoms by diluting Bergamot essential oil with some fractionated coconut oil, or other carrier oil (such as jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil), using a ratio of approximately 2 or 3 drops of Bergamot oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. This can be rubbed on the sore spot directly – or – using this same ratio, fill a roller bottle with the mixture and it is ready to go when needed.

Beauty is only skin deep: Bergamot supports healthy skin and may diminish blemishes as well as oily skin. It is also soothing to other skin irritations while minimizing the look of scars.